One of the best features for Ubuntu spinoffs like Lubuntu is their dedication to maintaining a stable, reliable and predictable desktop experience with every new version. Making the need for a Long Term Support (LTS) largely unnecessary.

A few nights I had the pleasure of upgrading while watching YouTube videos via VLC, browsing feedly updates in chromium. My Toshiba NB505 netbook chugged along calmly to the point where I actually didn’t notice it had finished. Upon reboot I was greeted with a softer rounded login screen. Once logged in I noticed that the only cosmetic change was a squared off application menu logo. Everything else was quietly the same as 13.04. Although I did have to restore my wallpaper and battery icon. I’m not sure if that was a glitch in the first reboot or a common issue. Both were easily solved within their preferences.

Updated applications still optimized for slower hardware and I generally kept everything in their stock configurations. The most intensive application being Chromium. 90% of my usage coming from web apps. However still capable of creating a basic screencast and video editing if I’m patient with the slow rendering of a dual core Atom processor.

Lubuntu doesn’t offer anything new and for that I thank them, as my systems age it’s good to know I can keep using them running dedicated projects like coding or torrenting iso files. Especially a low power netbook that tops out at 19 Watts.

If Lubuntu isn’t for you I’d suggest trying Peppermint OS which adds some cloud services and XFCE features creating modern experience while keeping things light.

The major issue I’ve had with LTS releases based on Ubuntu is the lack of updates to packages like pianobar or failure to simply mount my Nexus 7.